Fellner: »AI want to break free«. Kulturwissenschaftliche Debatten im digitalen Zeitalter

Abstract: This article examines the impact of artificial intelligence on debates on cultural studies and scholarly publishing in the digital age. Starting with the concept of »AI Want to Break Free«, the text reflects on how generative AI is transforming concepts of authorship, originality, transparency, and responsibility, and how it poses new ethical and institutional challenges to existing publication practices in academic journals and peer review processes. Using the teaching project »AI Across Borders« as an example, the article illustrates how a critical, reflective, and responsible approach to AI can look like in an academic context. Finally, the text advocates for a culturally informed practice in which AI is understood as a supportive tool, while human judgment, responsibility, and critical reflection remain central.